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. r l! l' UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

EDVARD B. SEARLES, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DORSEY J. BEVANS, OF SAME PLACE.

st lDlNG-DooR LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.`361,897, dated April 26, 1887.

Application filed August 21, 1886.

To LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. SEAELEs, of Baltimore city and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sliding-Door Locks, of which the following isa specication.

My invention embraces an improved fastening for car-doors, and has for its object to provide a simple and conveniently-operated construction by which to fasten the door closed,or open to any desired degree, without mutilating or injuring the side of the car; and the invention consists in certain features of construction and novel combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. l

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of a part of a car and door provided with my improved devices, the door being shown fastened entirely closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the door being shown partially open. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view drawn through the socketed plate and the portion of the block fitted to the sockets of said plate. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the block, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the door, showing the bail block or cleat, and indicatingin dotted lines the adjustment ofthe bail to permit the removal of the block or cleat.

In the present practice of cleating car-doors a block or cleat is placed up against the rear edge of the door, when the latter is closed, and is nailed securely to the side of the car. This practice is objectionable for several reasons. In the first place it mutilates the sides of the car; also, by means of the construction described, the door cannot be sealed, neither can it be fastened partiallyr open, as is especially desirable in cars used for fruit and other articles which require fresh air.

In carrying out my invention I provide the car A, in rear of its doorway B, with a series of sockets, C, ranging at different distances from said doorway, and preferably, as shown, in a straight line. While these sockets might be formed directly in the side of the car, they are by preference formed in a plate, D, of metal, which is sunk in the side of the car with its outer surface flush with the side of the car.

Serial No. 211,554. (No model.)

This plate may be secured to the car by screws, 5o as shown, by spikes, or in other suitable manner, suchplate being extended from the doorway rearward. The sockets C are formed 1n this plate D, and are undercut at their sides to retain the portion of the cleat or block which 5 5 fits therein, as will be described. These sockets are by preference connected by a slot, E, which extends between them and facilitates the convenient adjustment of the block or cleat from one to the other of said sockets.

The cleat or block F is connected with the door, and is provided with a part or portion, f, projected from its inner side, which is formed to fit in the socket G,and is adaptedwhen adjusted out of one of said sockets into the slot E to be freed, so it may be adjusted into any other one of the said sockets, as may be desired. This block in its specific construction is formed ofa body,1,of Wood,bored longitudinally at 2, to fit on the bail, and having wear- 7c plates 3 on its ends. This body l is mortised to receive a casting, 4, which has a projecting portion forming the part f of the block or cleat which fits the sockets of the car.

The bail G is attached to the rear edge of the 7 5 door, being pivoted at one end to the same, so that it may be turned out, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 5, to permit the block to be applied to and removed from the bail. At its opposite or upper end the bail is secured by an 8o eye, H, -pivoted to the door, so it can be turned over the upper end of the bail, to secure the same in vertical position. This bail, it will be seen, forms a retaining-guide for the block, which is tted thereto so that it may be moved 8 5 or adjusted vertically.

In operation, if it is desired to fasten the door closed, it is moved to such position, the portion j' of the block sliding in slot E, and when the door is closed the said portion f of 9o the block adjusts into the socket nearest the door. To fasten the door partially open it is moved to the desired position and the block adjusted into the proper socket. Now, it will be seen that the block, when engaging one of the sockets and being connected with the door, will operate as a fastening to secure such door in a desired position, but will not serve as a,

lock. To enable the locking of the doorIprol vide the block with a staple, 5, and secure `a hasp, 6, on the door in position to fit over said Staple when the block is secured in oneof the sockets. By fitting this hasp over the staple and applying a padlock or any desired form of seal-lock thedoor may belocked either in closed or partially-opened position. As before stated, this provision for locking the car partially open is of great importance in the -freighting of fruits or other articles which Would damage if closed up tightly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. A car-door fastening comprising a plate having a series of undercut sockets and a slot connecting the same, and the block having a portion adjustable into any one of the sockets and movable in the connecting-slot from 'one to the other thereof, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the door, the bail pivoted at one end to said door, an eye, also pivoted to the door and adapted to be turned over the free end of the bail, and a block or cleat on said bail, substantially as set forth.

3. rlhe combination of the car having a doorwayand.l an; undercut socket, a sliding door having avertiealbail at its rear edge, and a block secured by and movable vertically on said bail, and having a portion fitted to enter the socket aforesaid, substantially as set forth.

4C. The combination, substantially as herein described, of the car provided with a plate sunk therein and formed with undercut sockets and a slot connecting the same, the sliding door, the bail supported on the rear edge of said door, and a block secured by and movablevertically on said bail, and having a portion fitted to the sockets ofthe said plate, substantially as set forth.

5. .The combination of the car having an undercutsometan@sliding door, the block heid to and movable vertically along the rear edge of the door, and having a portion fitted to enter the socket of the car, and means, substantially as described, for securing such block to the door, substantially as set forth.

EDVARD B. SEARLES.y 

